Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia - November 23, 2013

Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune (municipality) of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands. It is the primary center of Tahitian and French Polynesian public and private governmental, commercial, industrial and financial services. Windward Islands are themselves part of the Society Islands. The name Papeete means "water from a basket". The urban area of Papeete has a total population of 131,000 with 26,000 in the city. Temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, averaging around 23 degrees Celsius - Nice. It does help if you can speak french in these French Polynesia islands as this is the main language, my high school french did not help me much. Once again we boarded a Taxi only to go around in a circle as the driver just not could get where we wanted to go - in our frustration we jumped out and no we did not have to pay. Speaking of paying, everything here is pretty expensive, just get used to it.

With Jeff and Joy we did a walk about town this morning taking in all the regular sights, including a great Central Market (Marche). From town we contacted the car rental people (after the fiasco with the taxi driver), they sent a car from the airport to pick us up. Hertz was great thereafter, nice Kia rental car and off we went on a whirl wind tour around the entire island. As the pictures show, sights included everything from road stand selling items (we believe those blueish things are land crabs wrapped in banana leaves, moistened to keep them alive), to a Mara'a Grotto, Paul Gauguin Museum, restaurant (there was a wedding going on), then to the actual Museum (closed for renovations - we knew that) with attached Botanical Gardens, then around to the other side of the island to the water falls, Arahoho Blowhole, Point Venus (of Captain Cook fame) and the Black sand beach, returned the car by 5:15 pm in order to get a free ride back to the pier - nothing like being under the gun, Jeff our driver thought he would have preferred the power of a Ferrari rather than the four banger Kia - great fun, great day.

Back in time for an early Mongolian Grill dinner then an excellent show with a local group coming on board and giving us just an incredible show - we just love it here, everything is so warm and relaxing. I am writing this at about midnight sitting outside on the back deck with a nice light breeze with an air temperate of about 18 degrees. Time for bed as tomorrow is another early day. One of my favorite islands, Moorea.

Quote of the Day. Taoto maitai - Tahitian for Good Night, pronounced "tay-oh-toh my-tie